The Household Division's Brigade Major, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Foinette, is joined by Royal Regiment of Scotland mascot Cruachan IV and Pony Major Rory Walker during the inspection
The Household Division's Brigade Major, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Foinette, is joined by Royal Regiment of Scotland mascot Cruachan IV and Pony Major Rory Walker during the inspection
Lance Corporal Ryan McAllister from Greenock gets the once-over from the Brigade Major - every detail must be perfect before the company is declared fit for role
Lance Corporal Ryan McAllister from Greenock gets the once-over from the Brigade Major - every detail must be perfect before the company is declared fit for role
Lieutenant Colonel Foinette shares a joke with Lieutenant Thomas of Balaklava Company's Colour Party
Lieutenant Colonel Foinette shares a joke with Lieutenant Thomas of Balaklava Company's Colour Party
Garrison Sergeant Major Vern Stokes casts his eye over the soldiers - he's responsible for ensuring ceremonial proceedings go off without a hitch and ensuring professional standards are maintained
Garrison Sergeant Major Vern Stokes casts his eye over the soldiers - he's responsible for ensuring ceremonial proceedings go off without a hitch and ensuring professional standards are maintained
The troops were put through their paces as they paraded in full ceremonial uniform, supported by the Pipes and Drums of the 4th Battalion
The troops were put through their paces as they paraded in full ceremonial uniform, supported by the Pipes and Drums of the 4th Battalion
The soldiers present arms with their SA80 L85 A3 assault rifles - the role of the King's Guard is literally that - to protect the monarch
The soldiers present arms with their SA80 L85 A3 assault rifles - the role of the King's Guard is literally that - to protect the monarch
The Household Division's Brigade Major, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Foinette, is joined by Royal Regiment of Scotland mascot Cruachan IV and Pony Major Rory Walker during the inspection
Lance Corporal Ryan McAllister from Greenock gets the once-over from the Brigade Major - every detail must be perfect before the company is declared fit for role
Lieutenant Colonel Foinette shares a joke with Lieutenant Thomas of Balaklava Company's Colour Party
Garrison Sergeant Major Vern Stokes casts his eye over the soldiers - he's responsible for ensuring ceremonial proceedings go off without a hitch and ensuring professional standards are maintained
The troops were put through their paces as they paraded in full ceremonial uniform, supported by the Pipes and Drums of the 4th Battalion
The soldiers present arms with their SA80 L85 A3 assault rifles - the role of the King's Guard is literally that - to protect the monarch
Army

Back for more: Balaklava Coy inspected before taking up King's Guard duties for second time

Mike Morton
The Household Division's Brigade Major, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Foinette, is joined by Royal Regiment of Scotland mascot Cruachan IV and Pony Major Rory Walker during the inspection
The Household Division's Brigade Major, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Foinette, is joined by Royal Regiment of Scotland mascot Cruachan IV and Pony Major Rory Walker during the inspection
Lance Corporal Ryan McAllister from Greenock gets the once-over from the Brigade Major - every detail must be perfect before the company is declared fit for role
Lance Corporal Ryan McAllister from Greenock gets the once-over from the Brigade Major - every detail must be perfect before the company is declared fit for role
Lieutenant Colonel Foinette shares a joke with Lieutenant Thomas of Balaklava Company's Colour Party
Lieutenant Colonel Foinette shares a joke with Lieutenant Thomas of Balaklava Company's Colour Party
Garrison Sergeant Major Vern Stokes casts his eye over the soldiers - he's responsible for ensuring ceremonial proceedings go off without a hitch and ensuring professional standards are maintained
Garrison Sergeant Major Vern Stokes casts his eye over the soldiers - he's responsible for ensuring ceremonial proceedings go off without a hitch and ensuring professional standards are maintained
The troops were put through their paces as they paraded in full ceremonial uniform, supported by the Pipes and Drums of the 4th Battalion
The troops were put through their paces as they paraded in full ceremonial uniform, supported by the Pipes and Drums of the 4th Battalion
The soldiers present arms with their SA80 L85 A3 assault rifles - the role of the King's Guard is literally that - to protect the monarch
The soldiers present arms with their SA80 L85 A3 assault rifles - the role of the King's Guard is literally that - to protect the monarch
The Household Division's Brigade Major, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Foinette, is joined by Royal Regiment of Scotland mascot Cruachan IV and Pony Major Rory Walker during the inspection
Lance Corporal Ryan McAllister from Greenock gets the once-over from the Brigade Major - every detail must be perfect before the company is declared fit for role
Lieutenant Colonel Foinette shares a joke with Lieutenant Thomas of Balaklava Company's Colour Party
Garrison Sergeant Major Vern Stokes casts his eye over the soldiers - he's responsible for ensuring ceremonial proceedings go off without a hitch and ensuring professional standards are maintained
The troops were put through their paces as they paraded in full ceremonial uniform, supported by the Pipes and Drums of the 4th Battalion
The soldiers present arms with their SA80 L85 A3 assault rifles - the role of the King's Guard is literally that - to protect the monarch

Infanteers from Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland have received some important visitors from south of the border before they head to London to take up an important ceremonial role.

The soldiers will be returning to the capital later this month where they will become the King's Guard for the second time.

To ensure they were fit for role, The Household Division's Brigade Major, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Foinette, and Garrison Sergeant Major WO1 Andrew "Vern" Stokes, travelled from London to inspect them at Redford Barracks in Edinburgh.

The Royal Regiment of Scotland is the senior line infantry regiment and the only Scottish line infantry of the British Army.

Each of its regular battalions has specialist operational roles whether fighting on foot or mounted on the Army's latest armoured vehicles and works with the regiment's two reserve battalions.

Unlike the other battalions, Balaklava Company, 5 Scots, is an incremental company that is dedicated to carrying out state and ceremonial duties.

All pictures courtesy of the Ministry of Defence

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